History History History The first headquarters were established at the 'Fiaschetteria Toscana' on Via Berchet in Milan, back in 1899 The first headquarters were established at the 'Fiaschetteria Toscana' on Via Berchet in Milan, back in 1899. From that moment on the glorious history of Milan was born as the club went on to write its name in football's record books to become, especially over the last 15 years, one of the most famous and successful teams in the world. The Rossoneri history is studded with legendary names of men who have made a major contribution to the club's development, be they presidents, coaches or players. The first president was a British expatriate, Alfred Edwards, who oversaw the club's first title - a mere two years after its foundation. The president with the most victories is Silvio Berlusconi who has taken Milan to the pinnacle of the world game since taking control in 1986. A great team needs a great coach and Milan have certainly had their fair share of the richest talent around.

The likes of Gipo Viani, Nereo Rocco and Nils Liedholm were the early masters and they were followed by Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello who took tactics and team strategy to a new level, which heralded much of what we can term as the modern approach to the game. Along the way, each and everyone of them also made sure their teams played spectacular football. The ushering in of the Berlusconi era first saw Sacchi and then Capello win numerous trophies. Sacchi won back to back European Cups with a team considered to have been one of the greatest teams in history, also claiming a Serie A title, two Intercontinental and European Super Cups. Capello followed that with four league titles, one European Cup and one European Super Cup. Alberto Zaccheroni kept the rich tradition going as he led the team to a league title in his first year before Fatih Terim took over for a short time and then passed the reins on to Carlo Ancelotti whose management skills have brought Milan back to top spot in Italy and throughout Europe.

1899/1929 On December 16, 1899 Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club was officially formed, but the first time Milan's name appeared publicly was on Monday, December 18 in an article by the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. The original headquarters were initially in the Fiaschetteria Toscana in Via Berchet in Milan and President Alfred Ormonde Edwards enrolled the team in the Italian Football Federation the following January. The team played just one game during their first season, against Torino, and despite a defeat Milan lifted their first Trophy, the 'King's Medal', presented by King Umberto I. In 1900/01, Milan won their first national title and their second King's Medal, which they went on to win again the following season.

Over the years, Kiplin's team had widespread success and Milan became the most popular team in the Lombardy region, winning the prestigious 'Palla Dapples' for three successive seasons (1904/05 - 1905/06 - 1906/07), even though they failed to make in-roads in the Championship: the second title failed to arrive until the 1905/06 season and the third was won the following year. The leading player was Louis Van Hege, a great goalscorer with an extraordinary average of 1.1 goals per game. In the 1914/15 season, the Championship was halted before the end of the year due to the outbreak of World War I, and it only started again in 1919. After several changes in the management structure, Pietro Pirelli was appointed as the new President. He held this role for almost twenty years, during which time the San Siro Stadium was inaugurated. 1929/1949 The 1920s are a period of consolidation for the Rossoneri with the team not making a major breakthrough on the pitch.

The club changes its name from Milan F.C. to Milan Associazione Sportiva, and following a number of changes in the top management, Umberto Trabattoni becomes president in 1940. It is a position he will hold until 1954. The team goes through a period of highs and lows but usually finishes the season in mid-table and rarely ends up in one of the top four places.. World War II puts an end to football until the 1946-47 season when the championship returns with each side playing each other just once. Milan manage to finish fourth behind the great Torino, Juventus and Modena. Over the next two seasons there is something of a rebirth as the team finishes in second and third place, with Torino crowned champions on both occasions. 1949/1955 The arrival of Gunnar Nordhal marked the beginning of a new era for a Rossoneri side that had for too many years been considered also-rans when it came to the league title.

Apart from Nordhal, who was the league's top-scorer with 35 goals in the 1949/50 campaign, two other Swedes joined the team: Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Gren. All three, along with goalkeeper Buffon, were the reinforcements the side needed. Milan won its fourth title in the 1950/51 season and crowned a historical year by adding the Latin Cup. Success kept coming and Nordahl was the league's leading goalscorer for three consecutive seasons, 1952/53, 1953/54 and 1954/55. In his last season, the captain fittingly led the Rossoneri to another title. In 1954, Juan Alberto Schiaffino, nicknamed "Pepe", was bought from Penarol and became one of the leading players in the team for years to come.

1955/1960 The 1955/56 season saw Milan take part in the first edition of the Champions Cup where they were defeated by eventual winners Real Madrid in the semi-finals, but did lift the Latin Cup for the second time when they came out 3-1 winners against Athletic Bilbao in the final. With the arrival of new coach Gipo Viani to take charge of the team, Milan won the league title in the 1956/57 season, but the real surprise of the campaign was striker Gastone Bean, who scored 17 goals. A year later, the side became even more competitive when Josè Altafini joined the team: the Brazilian won over the fans with his skills and speed, and together with the "old" captain Liedholm, Cesare Maldini and "Pepe" Schiaffino, the unforgettable playmaker in midfield, Milan won the title at the end of an exciting head-to-head with Fiorentina.

Schiaffino, one of the few players who deserves the title of true champion, played out his final season in a Milan side that failed to set the campaign alight, but at least the Rossoneri overcame city rivals Inter 5-3 in the spring derby, with Altafini scoring four goals. 1960/1970 While the previous years had been marked by foreign players (Gre-No-Li, Schiaffino-Altafini) leading the way, between 1960 and 1970, Italian players would not only take over as protagonists in the club's history but come to prominence in the world game and gain fame at an international level. From the Rome 1960 Olympic side arrived players such as Trapattoni, Trebbi, Alfieri and Noletti along with a young boy named Gianni Rivera who played his first game for the club when he was only 17 against Alessandria, his previous team, in a 5-3 win for Milan.

The Rossoneri were in the title race right down to the wire but two defeats in the last two games, against Bari and Fiorentina, gave them only a runners-up spot. When Nils Liedholm left, 'Paròn' Nereo Rocco arrived as the new coach to herald a new era, marked by success both at home and abroad. The first trophy was the league title in the 1961-62 season, but the most exciting and memorable success was the first European Cup. The final against Benfica, played at Wembley Stadium on May 22, 1963, was a fascinating match: Milan raised the cup after defeating the Portuguese side 2-1 (Altafini scored twice for Milan and Eusebio scored for Benfica). The iconic image of captain Cesare Maldini raising the cup together with Nereo Rocco is still imprinted in the memory of all Rossoneri supporters. Milan were unable to repeat their success in the Intercontinental Cup, where Milan lost the decisive match 1-0 at the Maracanà Stadium against Santos.

At the end of the season, president Andrea Rizzoli left the club after nine years of great successes including four league titles, one Latin Cup and the prestigious European Cup. He is remembered not only for his sporting achievements, but also for establishing the training centre of Milanello which would become an important asset down through the years. After a number of disappointing seasons where the team played well below their potential, Milan returned to the top of the table in the 1967-68 season, winning their ninth league title and the prestige of the club grew further with the victory of the European Cup Winners' Cup, the first in Milan's history. Having been crowned champions meant a return to the European Cup the following season and the Rivera-Prati partnership turned on the style in the final at the Bernabeu stadium where they defeated Dutch side Ajax, which included a young Johan Cruijff, 4-1. Milan goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini had already earned the nickname 'The Black Spider' following his exploits in keeping Manchester United at bay in the semi-final.

Milan were also finally crowned World Champions after a 3-0 win at the San Siro was followed by a 2-0 defeat at the Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires against Estudiantes. The class and style of Gianni Rivera earned the midfield playmaker the Golden Ball for the European Footballer of the Year in 1969, earning this wonderful tribute: 'in a barren world of football, Rivera is the only one to possess a sense of poetry.' 1970/1985 One of the darkest periods of Milan's history that left the club with little to celebrate. The only bright spot came when the team were bestowed the honour of wearing 'the Star' on their jerseys after winning a 10th league title, in 1979. The team also lifted the Italian Cup on three occasions along with one European Cup Winners’ Cup. The Italian champions were coached by Nils Liedholm, who gave a debut to a young player who would go on to captain the side and become one of the best defenders in the world: Franco Baresi.

The great Franco played his first competitive game for Milan on April 23, 1978 in a 2-1 victory at Verona. These years also saw numerous coaches come and go and the retirement of the legendary midfield general Gianni Rivera who moved on to take a position as club vice-president. The first eight years of the 1980s saw a decline in the previous high standards, with the team playing two seasons in Serie B. However, it was not all bad news as Paolo Maldini stepped onto the football stage when he made his debut on January 20, 1985 in a 1-1 draw at Udinese. Paolo, of course, would go on to follow in Baresi's footsteps and captain the side to success both at home and abroad. 1985/2007 After achieving success in previous seasons, Nils Liedholm was reinstated as coach. However, results did not improve in either the league or in cup competitions. The club had arrived at a point where a major overhaul was required and on March 24, 1986, Silvio Berlusconi was named Milan's 21st president.

The new president decided to radically reinforce the team and made the decision to move into the transfer market. In the 1986/78 season, the likes of Roberto Donadoni, Dario Bonetti, Giuseppe Galderisi, Daniele Massaro and Giovanni Galli were signed to join English stars Mark Hateley and Ray Wilkins. It would take the new arrivals time to gel but Milan managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup thanks to a play-off win over Sampdoria, with Massaro scoring the only goal of the game in extra-time. The 1978/89 season saw the arrival of Arrigo Sacchi. The new coach was an exponent of zonal marking, total football, along with pressure and speed on opponents when they had possession. Along with the arrival of Dutch stars Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit, the team would enter a new and exciting era that would transform the game not only in Italy but throughout the world. Youth team player Alessandro Costacurta was also promoted to the first-team squad and Milan got down to turning the season into one of those incredible moments.

Despite some adverse off-field penalties, including losing a match 2-0 against Roma due to a sporting arbitration decision, the team fought-back and went head-to-head with Diego Maradona's Napoli at the top of the table. A 3-2 win at Napoli's San Paolo stadium on May 18, 1988 gave Milan its 11th league title and the first of the Berlusconi era. The Dutch pair of Gullit and Van Basten were joined by fellow-countryman, Frank Rijkaard to form another new trio from the same country much as Gunnar Nordhal, Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Gren - the 'Gre-No-Li' - had done back in the 1950s. From that point on, it was success after success. In the 1988/89 season, Milan ruled Europe, lifting the Champions Cup after knocking out Vitocha, Red Star Belgrade, Werder Brema and then Real Madrid in the semi-finals to reach the final against Steaua Bucarest. Over 100,000 spectators filled Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium to watch Milan run out 4-0 winners.

With Sacchi in charge, the team won a league title, two Champions Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, two European Super Cups and one Italian League Super Cup. Former Milan midfielder Fabio Capello replaced Sacchi at the start of the 1992/93 season but the team continued to dominate both at home and abroad, winning four league titles (three consecutively), three Italian League Super Cups, one Champions Cup (won in the unforgettable final against favourites Barcelona) and one European Super Cup. The period between 1986 and 1996 was without a doubt the most prolific period, not only in terms of the number of trophies won, but in the excellent performances and exciting style of play. "The Immortals" and "The Invincibles", as they were known, took the game to new heights but the late '90s were not as positive as the beginning of the decade had been. The club alternated between a succession of coaches (Tabarez, then Sacchi and Capello again) but with the arrival of Alberto Zaccheroni in 1999, Milan won its 16th league title in the same season as the club's centenary celebrations.

The period between 1986 and 1996 was without a doubt the most prolific period, not only in terms of the number of trophies won, but in the excellent performances and exciting style of play. "The Immortals" and "The Invincibles", as they were known, took the game to new heights but the late '90s were not as positive as the beginning of the decade had been. The club alternated between a succession of coaches (Tabarez, then Sacchi and Capello again) but with the arrival of Alberto Zaccheroni in 1999, Milan won its 16th league title in the same season as the club's centenary celebrations. The rest of Milan's history takes us up until the present period, with Carlo Ancelotti taking over from Fatih Terim, and coincides with the team winning the Champions League in 2003 when they defeated Italian rivals Juventus in the final. Milan also lifted the Italian Cup and the European Super Cup that same year.

The league title returned to the club's Via Turati headquarters at the end of the 2003/04 season for what was the 17th time and the team started the following season by winning the Italian League Super Cup on August 21. However, the 2004/05 season was to leave a bitter taste in the mouth, and despite some excellent performances, the team was unable to attain the heights of the previous campaign. The 2006/2007 season instead was one of excellent work in terms of effort, courage and success on the pitch. Milan were given little chance following the penalisation handed out by the sporting judges at the start of the season but the players and coaching staff 'pulled up their sleeves' to turn events around in an amazing way. The players were called back early from their summer holidays, with some of them having just won the World Cup. The squad gathered at Milanello, united and determined, and they qualified for the group phase of the Champions League thanks to a two-legged win over Red Star Belgrade in the preliminary round. Milan also started well in the league but paid for their lack of pre-season preparation as the year wore on.

However, some warm-weather training in Malta during the winter break revitalised the team. Carlo Ancelotti's players were in excellent form going into the final stages of the season, as they centred their objectives on fourth place in the league and the Champions League. With fourth place secured, the final in Athens confirmed the strength of character of the team as it overcame the injustice, envy and misfortune it was forced to endure. One of the last conquered trophies is the European Supercup won on 31st August 2007 in Montecarlo in the final played against Seville, the Uefa Cup title holder: a match played without enthusiasm due to the premature death of the Andalusian player Antonio Puerta. However, another important appointment is scheduled for the Rossoneri in the 2007/2008 season: the difficult trip to Japan to win the FIFA Club World Cup, the most prestigious intercontinental trophy a Club can long for. Milan left Italy to Yokohama ready to face this nth challenge with one more motivation: winning the trophy would mean becoming the most successful Club in the world with the highest number of international trophies conquered and therefore beating Argentine Boca Juniors.

After winning the semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds Ancelotti’s men started concentrated and determined the final tie against Boca. The “world derby” was staged: the Rossoneri’s performance was practically perfect, decisively spectacular and the final result, 4-2 for them, crowned Milan as the most successful Club in the world. The city of Milan and all Milan’s fans celebrated together with the players this prestigious goal achieved thanks to the strength of a fantastic group capable of offering very special moments. Over the last few seasons the Rossoneri, four-times semi-finalists of the top European competition in five years, have certainly reaffirmed themselves as key players in the national and international scenarios, and are prepared for new achievements supported by the enthusiasm of their numerous fans In Italy and abroad, and by over one hundred year tradition of emotions and successes. Following the departure of Leonardo, the Rossoneri were taken over by coach Massimiliano Allegri, who for the 2010/2011 season had an all-star team to rely on thanks to new signings Ibrahimovic and Robinho in August 2010 and Cassano, Van Bommel and Emanuelson in January 2011.

With these new faces reinforcing the squad, the coach took Milan to the club's 18th Italian League title and 6th Italian Super Cup. After two and a half seasons which included a Serie A runners-up spot and a third-place finish, Massimiliano Allegri was replaced by Clarence Seedorf as Milan coach in January 2014, with the former Rossoneri midfielder guiding the team to sixth place by the end of the 2013/14 campaign. Filippo Inzaghi, who had already written his name into Rossoneri history as a player and then coach of the youth team, is preparing to take charge of the first team for the 2014/15 season. share on: AC Milan | Italian football club | Britannica.com Italian football club Alternative Titles: Associazione Calcio Milan, Rossoneri Related Topics Roberto Baggio AC Milan, in full Associazione Calcio Milan, also called Rossoneri (Italian: “Red and Blacks”), Italian professional football (soccer) club based in Milan . AC Milan is nicknamed the Rossoneri (“Red and Blacks”) because of the team’s distinctive red-and-black striped jerseys.

The winner of 18 Serie A (Italy’s top football division) league championships, the club is also one of the world’s most successful teams in international club competitions. Kaká, 2009. © Muzsy/Shutterstock.com The Milan Football and Cricket Club was formed in December 1899 with an Englishman, Alfred Ormonde Edwards, as its first president. The club survived a split in 1908, with some players forming what would become AC Milan’s fiercest rival, Inter Milan . AC Milan played at five different stadiums before moving to the San Siro in 1926. That stadium, heavily redeveloped for the 1990 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup tournament, now holds more than 80,000 spectators. Since 1946 AC Milan has shared the ground with Inter. The stadium was renamed the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in 1980 in honour of the great Italian forward who played briefly for AC Milan but spent most of his career with Inter.

Matches between Inter and AC Milan are known as the “Derby della Madonnina” after the statue of the Virgin Mary that surmounts the nearby Milan Cathedral. The rivalry between the two groups of fans is intense. Occasionally, this rivalry spills over into hooliganism and violence. In a semifinal match of the 2004–05 Champions League between the two teams, AC Milan was leading 1–0 when bottles, coins, and flares were thrown onto the pitch by Inter fans. One of the flares hit AC Milan’s goalkeeper, Dida, causing injury, and the game had to be discontinued. AC Milan won its first major international trophy, the European Cup, in 1963. Six more European Cup (now known as the Champions League) titles would follow. The latest came in 2007, when two goals from Filippo Inzaghi helped Milan beat Liverpool FC 2–1 in the final.

AC Milan has also won five European Super Cups (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007), two European Cup Winners’ Cups (1968, 1973), and three Intercontinental Cups (1969, 1989, 1990). In 2007, when it won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, AC Milan became the most successful European club in the history of international competion, with 18 major trophies to its credit. Similar Topics Liverpool FC AC Milan is unusual in that it has retired two jersey numbers in memory of former long-serving star players. The number 6 shirt is no longer worn, so as to honour the tough-tackling defender Franco Baresi, who played for Milan from 1978 to 1997, and the number 3 shirt is no longer worn, in deference to defender Paolo Maldini, who played more than 900 matches for the club between 1985 and 2009.

Other notable footballers who have played for Milan include Marco van Basten , George Weah , and Kaká . The club has been owned by Italian businessman and politician Silvio Berlusconi since 1986. AC Milan Football Club News and Results Football.co.uk Napoli missed the chance to reclaim first place from Juventus after being held to a 1-1 Serie A draw by AC Milan at the Stadio San Paolo.... Tue 23rd February 14:53 AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has described on-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli as an Italian who has taken a bit too much sun.... Sun 21st February 17:39 Sinisa Mihajlovic feels his improving AC Milan team have what it takes to knock Napoli while they are down.... Sun 21st February 16:53 Goals from Carlos Bacca and Keisuke Honda fired AC Milan to a 2-1 win over Genoa.... Wed 17th February 21:23 AC Milan have terminated the contract of Nigel De Jong by mutual consent, with the Holland international being linked with a move to LA Galaxy....

Mon 1st February 12:27 Mario Balotelli faces an extended lay-off following scans on a groin problem, his club AC Milan have announced.... Tue 10th November 13:01 AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez is set for spell on the sidelines after the Italian club confirmed he is out with a knee injury.... Tue 3rd November 09:42 Genoa denied 10-man AC Milan the chance to win a third straight Serie A game as Blerim Dzemaili instead condemned... Sun 27th September 16:31 Reported Everton target Sulley Muntari has had his contract with AC Milan terminated by mutual consent, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.... Tue 30th June 12:02 Sevilla forward Carlos Bacca has revealed he has reached personal terms with AC Milan over a proposed move this summer.... Mon 29th June 10:02 Filippo Inzaghi has been sacked as manager of AC Milan after just one season in charge of the Italian club, the Serie A side announced on Tuesday....

Tue 16th June 10:01 AC Milan have not given up hope of bringing Carlo Ancelotti back to the San Siro to guide the team next season.... Wed 27th May 10:17 AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi wants to keep on-loan Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel at the club for another season.... Mon 25th May 10:02 AC Milan are breathing a sigh of relief with the leg injury suffered by on-loan striker Mattia Destro not as serious as first feared.... Mon 13th April 14:40 The coaching future of former AC Milan star Filippo Inzaghi could hinge on the ailing Italian giants' home fixture with... Fri 6th March 02:46 Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol confirmed Wednesday he has held cordial talks with AC Milan about a possible share purchase but... Wed 18th February 02:46 Speculation that AC Milan could become the second Italian club to fall into Asian hands swirled on Monday as the...

Mon 16th February 14:46 Nine-man AC Milan were whistled off the pitch at the San Siro after a 1-1 draw with struggling Empoli on... Sun 15th February 14:46 AC Milan have revealed pictures for their new stadium in the centre of the city.... Fri 6th February 10:42 AC Milan have confirmed the signing of Italian striker Mattia Destro from Roma on a loan deal, with the option of a permanent transfer.... Fri 30th January 16:20 Roma striker Mattia Destro has agreed to join AC Milan, the struggling Serie A giants announced Thursday.... Thu 29th January 10:46 AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes has been banned for four games as a punishment for grabbing Lazio defender Stefano Mauri... Tue 27th January 13:31 The AC Milan coaching future of the club's former iconic striker Filippo Inzaghi is hanging in the balance after the...

Mon 26th January 11:01 Owner and club president Silvio Berlusconi has brushed off rumours that a deepening crisis has prompted him to consider putting AC Milan up for sale.... Wed 21st January 17:16 French striker M'Baye Niang has been loaned to Genoa by struggling Serie A giants AC Milan, according to reports Wednesday.... Wed 21st January 11:16 Milan suffered another defeat as Atalanta left the San Siro with all three points on Sunday thanks to German Denis'... Tue 20th January 13:25 AC Milan insist out-of-form striker Fernando Torres will remain at the club in January despite reports linking the Spaniard with... Mon 15th December 10:01 AC Milan have categorically denied that Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien has contracted Ebola while on national team duty.... Mon 13th October 07:31 Japanese international Keisuke Honda scored a late free-kick to help seal the points for AC Milan in a 2-0 win...

Sat 4th October 22:01 AC Milan host Juventus in a top-of-the-table clash Saturday that could add impetus to their bid to erase two nightmare... Fri 19th September 00:46 The 2015/16 Champions League final will be held in Milan's San Siro stadium, UEFA has announced.... Thu 18th September 17:31 Fernando Torres is refusing to make any promises he might regret to the fans at his new club Serie A... Tue 2nd September 22:01 Filippo Inzaghi got his tenure as AC Milan coach off to the best possible start with a scintillating 3-1 victory over Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday.... Sun 31st August 18:31 Fernando Torres' move to AC Milan from Chelsea moved a step closer to completion on Saturday as the Spain striker... Sat 30th August 13:01 Brazilian star Robinho left AC Milan for Santos on loan Thursday, rejoining the club where he started his career in 2002....

Thu 7th August 22:31 AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has revealed he came close to selling striker Mario Balotelli to an unnamed Premier League... Fri 4th July 07:17 AC Milan have sacked coach Clarence Seedorf after just five months at the helm and appointed his former team-mate Filippo... Mon 9th June 14:31 Paris Saint Germain defender Alex is set to sign for Milan, the player said on the Serie A club's official Twitter page Thursday.... Fri 6th June 09:11 Italy striker Mario Balotelli believes the presence of overt racism in his homeland means he is the target for more... Wed 28th May 08:16 Former Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi will be appointed to replace Clarence Seedorf as the Serie A club's coach, according to... Tue 27th May 09:31 FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for action from the Italian football federation (FIGC) after a banana was thrown at...

Mon 12th May 09:47 A second-half header from Nigel De Jong secured a 1-0 derby win for AC Milan over Inter Milan for the first time in three years on Sunday.... Mon 5th May 09:19 Keisuke Honda answered his critics by scoring the winner for AC Milan, his maiden Serie A goal, in a precious... Tue 8th April 00:16 Brazilian forward Ricardo Kaka said he still believes in his World Cup chances but refused to rule out leaving AC... Sun 30th March 10:16 An early Mario Balotelli strike and a brace from Kaka in a 3-0 victory over Chievo, who missed a late... Sat 29th March 23:02 Former AC Milan great Paolo Maldini fears the ailing Serie A giants' woes could last long-term unless there is major... Tue 18th March 13:31 Chinese investors buy A.C. Milan soccer club, "ending an era" in Italian soccer - Xinhua | English.news.cn Chinese investors buy A.C.

Milan soccer club, "ending an era" in Italian soccer Source: Xinhua 2016-08-06 05:21:48 NetEase Weibo by Alessandra Cardone ROME, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- A consortium of Chinese investors agreed to buy Italian A.C. Milan soccer team, putting an end to the 30-year-long ownership of Silvio Berlusconi and to an "era in Italian soccer", local media wrote on Friday. The historic football club was sold by Berlusconi's family holding Fininvest to Chinese investors gathered into Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing Company for some 740 million euros (821 million U.S. dollars), according to a statement by the company. The total value of the purchase included some 220 million euros of debts. "President Silvio Berlusconi approved the preliminary agreement related to the sale of the entire stake of 99.93 percent held by Fininvest in the AC Milan," Fininvest said.

The binding agreement was signed by Fininvest managing director Danilo Pellegrino, and the representative of the Chinese investors, Han Li, and would be finalized by the end of 2016. With the signing, the Chinese purchasers committed to "carry out relevant capital increases and financial injections for a total amount of 350 million over a period of three years." "The Chinese consortium included Haixa Capital, the State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC), and Yonghong Li, Chairman of the management company and main sponsor of the investor group, with whom Fininvest has been negotiating for some time until today's signing," Fininvest also stated. With the takeover, Milan's both football teams have now a Chinese ownership. In fact, Chinese retail giant Suning Commerce Co Ltd agreed to take control of 68.55 percent of Inter Milan, the main city rival of A.C. Milan, for some 270 million euros in early June. Italian media saw it as a dramatic shift in Italian football. They also recalled A.C. Milan team's successful path under Berlusconi, who had bought it in 1986.

"Under Berlusconi's leadership, the club won 28 competitions, hired 10 Golden Ball (winners), and showed spectacular soccer in Italy and Europe," Italy's main sport newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport said. The sport outlet devoted much attention also to the details of what it called "a dramatic turn of events", referring to the fact that a different group of Chinese investors, instead of those who had started negotiations, eventually signed the deal. "The new Chinese consortium was born out of a split among the six original investors," it wrote. The original group registered an irreconcilable rift on issues related to the A.C. Milan governance some 10 days ago, and "three of the investors preferred to take a separate path by creating the vehicle called Sino-Europe Investment Management Changxing," according to the sport daily. "Both Milan's soccer teams are now controller by Asian owners," senior sport analyst Gianni Mura noted on La Repubblica newspaper. "This is the sign of a sea change in our football, and the end of an era in which Italian city soccer teams managed to survive, and even win in Europe, by their own means only." "Clearly, this is no longer possible," Mura added.

Milan-based Il Corriere della Sera spoke of a "historic and sentimental breakthrough," in which the role played by Yonghong Li would prove crucial. "The Chinese investors (who signed the preliminary contract) are not the same people who had carried out negotiations thanks to the role played by Yonghong Li," sport journalist Daniele Dallera wrote. "Yonghong Li, who has been knowing Berlusconi for some time, entered in latest days because the previous consortium had some uncertainties," he added. In a separate story, Il Corriere also focused on the keen attention the large, and long-time rooted, Chinese community in Milan paid to the latest events. "This breakthrough has sparked great discussion among Chinese people living in Milan, who are businessmen, traders, and football fans," Il Corriere wrote. "According to the Chinese community, this is an operation related to soccer, marketing, and business, which looks not only at China but also at the global market." On social media, many Milan fans expressed their hope the Chinese ownership would bring new glory to their team, which has suffered financial troubles and last won Italian major league (Serie A) in 2011.

"We will see what future brings, but this time future has indeed started," Il Corriere della Sera said. (1 euro = 1.11 U.S. dollars) Editor: Liu Delivery19_July_History Photos and Images | Getty Images Delivery19_July_History July 17, 1986 Licence The presentation of the new team with the new president Silvio Berlusconi at the...The presentation of the new team with the new president Silvio Berlusconi at the Arena Civica. The team arrived by helicopters, accompanied by the Ride of the Valkyries theme. On this helicopter, the football player Franco Baresi ready to get off.

Milan (Italy), 18th July 1986 LessMore The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90 - UEFA Champions League - News - UEFA.com The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90 Saturday 4 July 2015 by Paolo Menicucci The Greatest: "We defended by attacking and pressing," says Carlo Ancelotti as he recalls the AC Milan side that crushed all comers in the late 1980s under Arrigo Sacchi. ©Getty Images UEFA.com analyses the teams that changed football; this time, the AC Milan side that won back-to-back European Champion Clubs' Cups at the turn of the 1990s. The golden age Without a trophy since winning a tenth Scudetto in 1979, Milan were in the doldrums until Silvio Berlusconi took over as president in 1986. The relatively-unknown Arrigo Sacchi joined as coach in summer 1987, along with Dutchmen Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit.

Sacchi's squad won the Italian title in their first season, then the European Cup – and indeed the corresponding UEFA Super Cups and European/South American Cups – in the following two campaigns. Though Fabio Capello and later Carlo Ancelotti would maintain Milan's position as a major force in European football, Sacchi's side was the most memorable of the age. "Our president had a dream," Sacchi recalled. "He wanted to build the best team in the world. When I arrived, I found a group of great professionals who were eager to win, but only by playing the most spectacular football." Barcelona 2008-12: Guardiola's greatest The baton handover Beating Real Madrid CF in the semi-final of the 1988/89 European Cup was a watershed moment for Milan, who had signed a third Dutch star, Frank Rijkaard, the previous summer. Madrid were considered effectively unbeatable at home, with Milan expected to sit back and accept punishment in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. Sacchi, however, had other plans. His side took the initiative and were unlucky to be held to a 1-1 draw. No matter.

They won the return leg 5-0 in Milan, with Ancelotti scoring a brilliant opener. "Ancelotti's goal was emblematic of our approach," midfielder Roberto Donadoni said. "We were incredibly determined and hungry." "Fantastique Milan AC!" read the headline in French sports paper L'Equipe the following day, with their 4-0 final victory against FC Steaua București in Barcelona – with two goals each from Gullit and Van Basten – almost an afterthought. Arrigo Sacchi in 1990©Getty Images The game-changing philosophy Committed to concepts like "collective intelligence", Sacchi demanded "11 active players in every moment of the game, both in defence and attack". Remarkably, he used to stage full matches in training without a ball, telling players where the imaginary ball was so they could respond – and position themselves – accordingly. "The only way you can build a side is by getting players who can play a team game," Sacchi said. "You can't achieve anything on your own, and if you do, it doesn't last long.

I often quote what Michelangelo said: 'The spirit guides the hand.'" The tactical genius "I never realised that to be a jockey you had to be a horse first," snapped Sacchi after critics questioned the unremarkable defender's ability to lead a top club like Milan. He had worked his way up the ranks as a coach, joining Milan after a successful spell at Parma FC, and was determined to change the traditional Italian style. "Most Italian teams focus on defence," he explained. "Every team played with a libero and man-markers. In attack, everything hinged on the individual skills and creativity of the No10." Sacchi's sides played in a 4-4-2 system with zonal marking, the distance between the defence and midfield lines never greater than 25 to 30 metres. That high defensive line – and an efficient offside trap – maintained pressure on opponents not used to being hurried.

The star players Franco Baresi: 'Kaiser Franz' was coach Nils Liedholm's libero when Milan won the 1978/79 Scudetto, and captained Milan through hard times before embracing zonal marking to lead Sacchi's defensive line, marshalling the equally daunting Mauro Tassotti, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini. Ruud Gullit in 1989©Getty Images Ruud Gullit: The epitome of Sacchi's total football style, Gullit could threaten in any position. "He is a great player by any standards," George Best said of him in 1990. "He's not afraid to do things with the ball. And he looks as if he's enjoying every second of it. By my reckoning that's what makes him an even better player than Maradona." Marco van Basten: "He remains the best striker of all time in my opinion," Sacchi once said of the Dutchman. "No other forward has worked as hard for the team as Marco did at Milan.

Above all, however, I remember him for his elegance, his grace and his incredible ability." What they said Roberto Donadoni: "Sacchi started a revolution in Italian football, at mental and tactical level. We had our style of playing and we were trying to impose it on all opponents, from amateurs in a mid-week training game to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu." Carlo Ancelotti: "Arrigo completely changed Italian football – the philosophy, the training methods, the intensity, the tactics. Italian teams used to focus on defending – we defended by attacking and pressing." Xavi Hernández, FC Barcelona midfielder in 2012: "We are incredibly proud when they compare us with Sacchi's Milan. That was a side which made history in football." © 1998-2017 UEFA. All rights reserved. Last updated: 1/13/2017 12:00:54 PM All the latest news, ticket info and offers directly into your inbox! Thank you for subscribing! Subscribe There seems to be a problem with the email you have entered. Please check your address is valid and re-enter. By continuing you accept UEFA Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Question: Who was the President of A.C. Milan Football Club from 1986 to 2004?
Answer: SILVIO BERLUSCONI